Whether you’re an apartment dweller, a home renter, or you’ve just purchased a home without central air, a room in your home that is too hot can become very uncomfortable or even unbearable. What you need is a high-efficiency portable unit, window unit, or through-the-wall unit to make any room in your home the most popular place in the house.

Technology has stepped into the cool air with digital remote controls and control panels. Plus, today’s room air conditioner units are energy efficient and oftentimes, portable. You can chill where you want, when you want. Lower prices and quicker installation also make purchasing a room air conditioner an affordable alternative to installing central air.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
All three styles of room air conditioners have their advantages and disadvantages based on installation locations depending on what works best for your cooling needs and whether you’re the home owner or a renter. If you own your home and live in a warmer climate, a through-the-wall unit might be your best investment due to its permanent installation. If you can’t renovate your home or apartment because you’re renting, a room or window unit will be better.

Portable
The most physically mobile of all room air conditioners is the portable unit. Moving portable units from room to room is easy, so you can cool your bedroom at night and cool your living room during the day. 

• Non-commercial units have a maximum BTU of 12,500 (approximately 600 sq. ft.).
• Most have two wheels or four casters for easy movement and are approximately 2 to 3-feet tall.

Window
These units are usually found in apartments or smaller homes and are used to cool one or two rooms. 

• This style is a self-contained unit installed through an open window with the cooling (condenser, fan, and compressor) unit inside the living space and the hot portion (fan and evaporator) sitting outside the window.
• Installation is semi-permanent and can be moved from window to window.

Wall
The functions of a through-the-wall room air conditioner are the same as a window unit but it is installed through a hole cut into the side of the home. 

• This style is a self-contained unit installed through an open hole in the wall with the cooling (condenser, fan, and compressor) unit inside the living space and the hot portion (fan and evaporator) sitting outside the window.
• Doesn’t occupy any floor space (portable unit) or block the window view (window unit).

WHAT OPTIONS DO I NEED?
After you’ve decided on where your room air conditioner will be located in your home, the next item to add to the decision equation is the square footage of the room you need to keep cool.

Room Size
No matter if you choose a portable, window, or wall unit, you must match your room size to the BTUs of your room air conditioner. Use the following chart to ensure your cooling capacity matches your square footage:

• A unit that is too small will work overtime and won’t be unable to maintain a set temperature.
• Units that are too large won’t be able to run long enough to dehumidify the room properly. Because the unit will cycle on and off too frequently, the evaporator coils will freeze up and eventually lead to the unit shutting down possibly causing permanent damage and wasting energy. All this will result in the room being too cool and humid because there is still too much water in the air.
• A room air conditioner that is the right size might run longer during the day, but will do a much better job of removing humidity and keeping the room at the proper temperature. In the case of air conditioners, bigger is not better.

Window Type & Size

• For window room air conditioners, measure your window’s width and height before selecting a unit. The installation kit will fill the space of the open window without physical modifications to your window frame.
• Window room air conditioners are designed to fit three different types of windows:
  • Double Hung (slide up and down)
  • Casement (crank out)
  • Horizontal Sliding (left or right)

Installation
There are three locations available in your home for temporary or permanent installation of your air conditioning unit.

Portable – The required installation kits for windows and sliding patio doors are usually provided and are easy to install.

Wall - Don’t be bashful about asking for professional help before punching a hole in the side of your home to install the sleeve the unit slides into. A mistake can cause extensive structural damage to your home.

Window - Most units come with a window installation kit which any handy do-it-yourselfer can install without requiring professional assistance.

Power Supply & Power Cords

• The electrical draw of your room air conditioner is a safety concern for both your home and the unit. Small to medium BTU units will require a standard 115-volt outlet. Larger BTU units may require a dedicated 115-volt circuit. The largest BTU units will require a 230/208-volt circuit. Check with an electrician if you’re not sure.
• All portable, window, and wall air conditioners are equipped with safer plugs which helps prevent fires in your home caused by damaged power cords. The unit is designed to shut down all electrical power to the unit if they sense the power cord is damaged.

Control Panels

• No more clumsy switches and guessing what the temperature is set as when using the old ‘red’ (warmer) and ‘blue’ (cooler) dials. The easy-to-ready LED screens provide clear labeling and control of your unit.
• Some units have raised buttons in the shape of arrows, circles, and ovals which are easier to identify from a distance.

Remote Control
Ensure you air conditioner comes with a remote control which is probably different than your television’s remote in that it has a digital display screen. The screen will display items such as the following:

• Current Temperature
• Set Temperature
• Operation Mode (auto, cool, dry, heat, fan, etc.)
• Time of Day
• 24-Hour Timer Settings

An innovative feature in some remote controls is a remote thermostat that is able to sense the temperature where the remote control is sitting away from the main air conditioning unit. If you’re watching TV in your favorite recliner with the remote control next to you, the sensor will detect the ambient temperature around your chair and adjust the temperature accordingly.

Sleeve

• A sleeve is a metal box open on opposite ends to allow the wall air conditioner to slide into the sleeve (but not all the way through it).
• A sleeve is required for wall units because the wall itself cannot support the weight of the air conditioner. Without a sleeve, your unit will fall out of the wall.
• Some manufacturers have standard-sized sleeves so it is best to purchase a sleeve from the same manufacturer that made the air conditioner.
• If there is already a sleeve in your wall, measure it carefully to ensure you unit will fit.

Water Drainage
Portable room air conditioners have three methods of dispensing the humidity collected from the air. 

1. Condensation is disbursed through a tube to the outside of the home.

2. Some units will have a bucket or pan that collects the condensation and will need to be monitored and emptied as needed.

3. Self-contained units recycle the condensation and redistribute the air (after it is cooled) back into the room.

Heating

• If the weather in your neighborhood changes by the hour, a unit that also has a heating function will take the chill out of the air.
• For a unit that performs cooling and heating functions, the BTU rating will be different for cooling and heating. For example, a unit might have a 12,000 BTU rating for cooling but a 6,200 BTU rating for heating.
• Units will have heat pumps or electric heat strips for providing the warm air.
• Heating options are available in portable, window, and wall units.

Timers

• Capable of turning the unit on or off any time during a 24-hour period (cooling or heating).
• Eight-hour sleep mode increases the temperature by two degrees 30 minutes after you activate it. After 30 more minutes have passed, the temperature increases another two degrees. That temperature is then maintained for seven continuous hours before returning to the original temperature.

Noise

• Although modern room air conditioners run more efficiently and are insulated better than the units of yesterday, there will be an increase in noise in the room when the unit is operating.
• Consider not installing the unit next to a telephone or your favorite chair as your hearing and listening ability might be challenged.

Ventilation

• Since portable room air conditioners are self-contained, the hot air they collect needs to ventilate through a 3 to 5-inch hose.
• No window is required for venting. But, with minor modifications a portable unit can be vented through a wall, sliding patio door, drop ceiling, or through a window.

Storage

• A portable room air conditioner unit might only be needed during the hottest times of the year. When the days and nights have cooled off, it can be stored in a closet, basement, or your garage until the heat returns next season.
• When the cold weather returns to your neighborhood and you won’t need your window air condition for awhile, you’ll either have to winterize your unit or find a place in your home to store it for a few months.

Louvers
If you are placing your portable unit or mounting a window or wall unit near a corner, ensure the unit has adjustable vertical and horizontal louvers capable of directing the airflow towards the center of the room.

ENERGY STAR®

• Not all portable, window, or wall air conditioning units are ENERGY STAR® qualified so read the product packaging or literature provided with the unit you’re researching to ensure you’re conserving energy. You don’t want your energy bill to go up just because the temperature outside is rising.
• ENERGY STAR® qualified room air conditioners use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models. The minimal energy consumption is partially achieved by units that include timers for better temperature control at night and when nobody is at home.
• The air conditioner you’re interested in might be eligible for ENERGY STAR® rebates and federal tax credits. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/ for more information.

DEFINITIONS RELATED TO ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
Room air conditioners have a few acronyms and terms used to describe their features, functions, and benefits. We’ll decipher the lingo for you here:

BTU

• BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and is unit of energy used to describe the power of heating and cooling systems.
• One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of liquid water one degree Fahrenheit. One ton equals 12,000 BTU/h, which is calculated from the amount of energy required to melt one ton of ice in a 24-hour period.
• For heating and air conditioning purposes, the BTU power rating is calculated as energy consumer per hour and can be noted on product packaging and other documentation as BTU or BTU/h.

EER

• The Energy Efficiency Ratio is calculated by dividing the BTUs by the number of cooling watts.  

15,100 BTUs ÷ 1,400 Cooling Watts = 10.7 EER

•  The higher the EER number the more efficient the unit should be. A higher EER-rated air conditioner will probably be more expensive up front, so you’ll need to decide if the higher initial cost is worth the energy savings you may be getting down the road.
• Although EER ratings range from 8-11.5, if you live in a seasonally warmer climate, select a rating of at least 10 or higher.

Short Cycle

• A short cycle is caused when a room air conditioner is too large for the area it is cooling. This will cause the unit to pump out too much cool air causing it to reach the thermostat’s setting too quickly. If this continues, damage to the mechanical and electrical components of the unit are certain and will dramatically shorten the life of your air conditioner.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Keeping your home’s interior comfortable can be accomplished inexpensively and effectively by following these five steps: 

1. Choose the type of unit to fit your needs – portable, window, or wall.
2. Calculate square footage of the room you need to cool.
3. Match square footage to the BTUs needed using the chart shown above.
4. Select the options and features you need.
5. Properly install the unit using professional services if required.

Most all portable, window, and wall units come with a one year parts and labor warranty. Read your owner’s manual from cover-to-cover to ensure you know exactly how to operate your unit. You’ll be surprised how many features, functions, and benefits you’ll learn about your air conditioner and you’ll end up using your unit to its capability.

Still have questions? – feel free to speak with an hhgregg associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am and is filed under Appliances. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.